Job 42:14 · Bible study
Job 42:14 Commentary: The Daughters of Restoration
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What do the names Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-happuch mean? Discover how Job's naming of his daughters reflects God's restoration and beauty after suffering.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jemimah = “day” (or “dove”); Keziah = “cassia” (aromatic spice); Keren-happuch = “horn of antimony” (eye paint).
- Key words: shem (name), qara (to call/name), and the three proper names.
- Main debate: Whether Jemimah means “day” or “dove,” and whether the names merely describe appearance or also signify Job’s restored state.
- Theological theme: God’s restoration includes beauty, joy, and family, not just material increase.
- Best use: As a picture of hope after suffering; a reminder to look for God’s gifts in seasons of new beginnings.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He named his first daughter Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren Happuch.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren–happuch.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and he calleth the name of the one Jemima, and the name of the second Kezia, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he called the name of one Dies, and the name of the second Cassia, and the name of the third Cornustibii.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y llamó el nombre de la una, Jemimah, y el nombre de la segunda, Cesiah, y el nombre de la tercera, Keren-happuch.
E chamou o nome da uma Jemima, e o nome da segunda Quézia, e o nome da terceira Quéren-Hapuque.
il donna à la première le nom de Jemima, à la seconde celui de Ketsia, et à la troisième celui de Kéren-Happuc.
und hieß die erste Jemima, die andere Kezia und die dritte Keren- Happuch.
En hij noemde den naam der eerste Jemima, en den naam der tweede Kezia, en den naam der derde Keren-Happuch.
e chiamò la prima, Colomba; la seconda, Cassia; la terza, Cornustibia.
I dał imię pierwszej Jemina, a imię drugiej Kietzyja, a imię trzeciej Kierenhappuch.
И нарек он имя первой Емима, имя второй — Кассия, а имя третьей — Керенгаппух.
他給長 女起 名 叫耶米瑪，次 女叫 基洗亞，三 女叫基連‧哈樸。
And he gave the first the name of Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Job 42:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the names of Job’s three daughters are deliberately chosen to mark his restored prosperity and the beauty God gave him after his trials. Barnes notes that it is “remarkable” that only the daughters’ names are recorded, and that they “contributed greatly to the happiness of Job on the return of his prosperity.” The names are widely understood to mean “day” (Jemimah), “cassia” (Keziah), and “horn of antimony” or “horn of paint” (Keren-happuch). The Chaldee paraphrase adds that Jemimah was named for being “as fair as the day,” Keziah for being “as precious as cassia,” and Keren-happuch for a face “as splendid as the emerald.” Adam Clarke, Barnes, and the Cambridge Bible each affirm that the names symbolize Job’s transition from the “night” of affliction to daylight, from suffering to a sweet fragrance, and from a “horn defiled in the dust” (Job 16:15) to one of beauty and plenty. The names are not incidental labels; they are testimonies to God’s grace.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The names are intentionally chosen to celebrate Job's restored prosperity and the beauty of his daughters, marking the end of his affliction.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of Jemimah | The name signifies light or beauty, connected to Job's new day after affliction. | Some (Barnes, Vulgate) read it as 'day'; others (Keil & Delitzsch, Gill) read it as 'dove'. |
| Significance of naming | The names are meaningful and reflect Job's restored prosperity. | Some see them as literal descriptions of the daughters' appearance (Chaldee), others as theological statements about God's grace (Matthew Henry, Geneva notes). |
| Cosmetic reference | Keren-happuch refers to antimony eye-paint, a beauty item. | Whether the name indicates the daughters' own use of cosmetics (Delitzsch) or that their natural beauty was so great they needed no paint (Gill). |
| Daughters' inheritance | Verse 15 records that Job gave his daughters an inheritance, which was exceptional. | Whether this is a sign of God's abundant blessing or an early hint of the value of women in God's kingdom. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, names often carried deep meaning. They could describe a child’s appearance, commemorate an event, or express a parent’s hope. Job’s naming of his daughters after his restoration fits this pattern. The names are drawn from everyday life: Jemimah likely refers to daylight or the dove, Keziah to a prized aromatic bark, and Keren-happuch to the eye paint (antimony) used by women to enhance beauty. These were not random choices. Each name points to something beautiful, light, fragrance, adornment, which Job’s daughters embodied.
The Septuagint translation of Keren-happuch as “horn of Amalthea” (the horn of plenty) shows how early readers understood the name as a symbol of abundance. Clarke reports this fable with surprise, noting that the Greek translators drew from their own cultural imagery. The Vulgate renders the three names Dies, Cassia, and Cornustibii, again focusing on day, spice, and beauty.
Culturally, naming a daughter after cosmetics or light was a way of celebrating her beauty. Job’s daughters are described in verse 15 as the most beautiful women in the land, and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers, an unusual move that underscores their honored place in the restored household. The names thus capture the joy and fullness of Job’s new beginning.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew is stable across manuscripts. The Septuagint and other ancient versions translate the names rather than transliterate them, but that reflects translation practice, not a different Hebrew text.
Reception History
Early translations show how the names were understood: the Vulgate rendered them as Dies (Day), Cassia, and Cornustibii (horn of antimony); the Septuagint turned Keren-happuch into “horn of Amalthea,” drawing on Greek myth (Clarke). The Chaldee Targum added explicit comparisons to daylight, spice, and emeralds. In later Christian reading, these names were sometimes seen as types of the three graces of faith, hope, and love, or as symbols of the beauty God gives His people after trial. Many hymns and sermons have found in Job’s daughters a picture of restoration that is not merely material but deeply personal and joyful.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- From Night to Day (Jemimah). Job had endured a long, dark season. Naming his first daughter “Day” signals that the sun has risen on his life. God does not just repair what was broken; He brings a new dawn.
- Fragrance of Life (Keziah). Cassia was a sweet spice used in perfume (Psalm 45:8). Where once Job’s body was covered in painful sores, now his household is filled with a pleasant aroma. Restoration touches even the senses.
- Beauty Restored (Keren-happuch). The horn of antimony was a container for eye makeup, a tool of beauty. God restores not only health and wealth but also dignity, joy, and the capacity for celebration.
Five-point outline
- God restores what was lost, and adds something new.
- Naming is an act of testimony; Job gives his daughters names that preach hope.
- Daughters receive an inheritance, showing that God’s grace is not limited by custom.
- Beauty is a gift from God, not something to be ashamed of.
- The double blessing (14,000 sheep, etc.) includes intangible gifts like beautiful children and family unity.
Illustration hooks
- A gardener who, after a harsh winter, names each new flower “Hope,” “Joy,” and “Peace” to remember the season of waiting.
- A recently remarried couple who choose a name for their first child that honors both loss and new life.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why are only the daughters named, not the sons?
- Do the names mean I should expect God to give me back everything I lost?
- How can I find beauty in my life after suffering?
Leading a Discussion
The names of Job’s daughters invite us to think about how we mark God’s work in our lives. Names can be a way of remembering what God has done. This passage shows that restoration is not only about getting things back; it is about receiving new gifts that carry meaning.
Discussion questions
- What details stand out to you in Job 42:14? Why do you think the writer includes the names of Job’s daughters?
- Based on the commentary you read, what do the names Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-happuch mean? How do they relate to Job’s earlier suffering?
- Job gave his daughters an inheritance alongside their brothers (verse 15). What does this tell you about Job’s view of his daughters and about God’s restoration?
- In what ways do we “name” our experiences, either through words, actions, or attitudes? How can we testify to God’s goodness after hard times?
- Some might say that focusing on beauty and material wealth is superficial. How does this passage challenge or affirm that view?
- Think of a time when you experienced a “new beginning.” What helped you mark that moment? How did it shape your faith?
- How can you apply the lesson of these names to someone you know who is still suffering? What would you say?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that these names describe the wives by their physical appearance (daylight for the first one and precious herbs for the others). He explains the third name comes from a story about a goat whose horn was replaced in heaven as a symbol of plenty.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the names of Job's three daughters are carefully chosen to reflect his restored prosperity and joy after affliction. Jemima ("day") symbolizes the return of light after night, Kezia ("cassia") represents precious perfume, and Keren-happuch ("horn of stibium") refers to eye paint, showing that even materials of
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the three names each highlight a different quality of the daughters. These qualities are meant to praise their virtues rather than describe their flirtatiousness.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Geneva Bible Notes notes that Job names his three sons Iemimah Keziah and Keren-happuch. These names reveal his hope for them to bring strength and healing after their suffering.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Job named his daughters after features of their appearance (day bright as sunlight, fragrant like cassia, face shining like an emerald). He also believes the names reflected his own changed situation after suffering ended.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
The commentary links his new names to symbols of purity and brightness. These names show his daughters are beautiful as well.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch treat the daughters' names as descriptions of their beauty: Jemima suggests dovelike eyes, Kezia a sweet cinnamon fragrance, and Keren-happuch, the most beautiful, a beauty heightened by cosmetics. The passage, they note, keeps to outward appearance from an Old Testament standpoint, portraying them like three graces.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Job's restoration is not merely an earthly reward but a vindication essential to Old Testament revelation, offering genuine consolation to believers. He sees Job's suffering as having a dual purpose: to prove his innocence and to purify him, making Job a type of both Christ and Christians whose trials serve both to test and to chasten.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that after Job prayed for his friends the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much wealth as before. He also says that because of this restored prosperity Job lived a long life and saw four generations of his descendants.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the names of Job's restored daughters as bearing symbolic meanings. Jemima suggests the bright day after a dark night, Kezia the sweet fragrance of cassia, and Keren-happuch indicates that plenty has been restored. Together they signify the fullness of Job's renewed blessings.